Bregman said he hoped the plea would bring some closure to the family, who was in court Thursday. Muhammad Syed, a 51-year-old man who has lived in Albuquerque for about five years, is also suspected in a fourth murder that occurred in November 2021. In recent years, the data showed that inane, petty disputes increasingly sparked killings. The shooter opened fire during the lunch hour at Washington Middle School in front of numerous students who had returned for the fall semester just two days earlier. By this time last year, there were only 18. A ShotSpotter activation showed 13 gunshots were fired, following by additional rounds, in the area of 417 Rhode Island Street, police documents show. The four menall Muslimand from South Asia were ambushed, shot, and killed in Albuquerque since November 2021. Why is violent crime going up in Albuquerque? KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. In the first three quarters of 2021, Albuquerque had 111 violent crimes per 10,000 people, according to FBI data. FILE - This Aug. 9, 2020, still image taken from officer video provided by the Albuquerque Police Department shows the arrest of Muhammad Syed. He said public behavior has changed dramatically in the last two years. At the end of December 2022, the Now, the APD is about 200 officers short of being fully staffed, he adds. Homicides have tended to cluster around certain parts of town, such as the International District. Police in New Mexico are stepping up security at Albuquerque-area mosques and Muslim community schools as investigators hunt for the suspect who gunned down four Muslim men over the past nine months. According to the criminal complaint, Syed "waited behind a bush, north of the driveway where Aftab Hussein would park his vehicle. The most recent survey data from 66 police departments across the US show that the majority of those departments have reported an increase in the number of homicides from January to October 2021 compared to the same time frame in 2020. Family members of many victims have been frustrated. Albuquerque homicides now account for more than half of the entire states yearly homicide count. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). ALBUQUERQUE POLICE, FBI INVESTIGATING POSSIBLE LINK BETWEEN FOUR MURDERED MUSLIM MEN. Statistics released by Chicago police over the weekend listed 797 homicides 25 more than were recorded in 2020 and the most since 1996. ALBUQUERQUE MURDER SUSPECT TRIES TO SPEAK IN COURT; FAMILY REPORTEDLY SAYS HE WAS HOME AT TIME OF SLAYINGS. Altaf Hussain cries over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. , VIDEO: Giant I-40 light poles sway in strong ABQ, Taxidermy birds used to make drones at New Mexico, PHOTOS: Storm leaves parts of state covered in snow, PHOTOS: Winter storm moves through NM leaving snow, PHOTOS: Storm causes snowy, icy roads across New, Map: New Mexico Veterans Monuments and Memorials, 13 Broadcast Pl SW, Albuquerque, NM, 87104, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. , VIDEO: Giant I-40 light poles sway in strong ABQ, Taxidermy birds used to make drones at New Mexico, PHOTOS: Storm leaves parts of state covered in snow, PHOTOS: Winter storm moves through NM leaving snow, PHOTOS: Storm causes snowy, icy roads across New, Map: New Mexico Veterans Monuments and Memorials, 13 Broadcast Pl SW, Albuquerque, NM, 87104, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. As of April 18, 2021, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) recorded 35 homicides across the city. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Although the FBI updates its data bases regularly it does not update published reports. 2023 The City of Albuquerque. Court documents filed in federal court provided more details about Naeem Hussain's killing, saying it appeared he had been followed to Lutheran Family Services, the resettlement agency, following funeral services for two of the other shooting victims. , New Mexico man accused of sex crime against student, One person dead, another hospitalized in SE ABQ shooting, Case dismissed for teen accused of taking gun to, Dancing in the Cave at the University of New Mexico, Whats happening around New Mexico Feb. 24 Mar. Ten minutes after the shooting, the motion states the men shared a second call as their phones remained in the "general area of the murder.". Albuquerque murders: Son of New Mexico suspect to remain MURDERS IN ALBUQUERQUE MUSLIM COMMUNITY: NEW MEXICO OFFICIALS OFFERING $20K REWARD FOR INFO LEADING TO KILLER, Altaf Hussain cries over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. The 311 Community Contact Center is a centralized call center for the City of Albuquerque. In 2018, the Albuquerque Police Department began reporting crime statistics using the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Incident-Based Reporting But Albuquerques increase is above average according to data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association. Legal Statement. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. We are falling in line with a lot of the other major, big cities, he said. Police are probing whether he was also involved in the murder. Four men in total all Muslims from South Asia were ambushed, shot, and killed in Albuquerque since November 2021. Legal Statement. Albuquerque Metro Crime Stoppers announced a $20,000 reward for information leading to a suspect, and urged anyone with information related to the killings to call Crime Stoppers at (505) 843-STOP (7867) orsubmit tips here. As a result, violent crime including Albuquerques homicides are the result of what Huffmyer calls a mishmash of complex factors. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Olympic ticket sales for Paris Games gets off to, 7 Cubs pitchers combine for no-hitter vs Machado,, Mikal Bridges helps Nets rally to stun Celtics, 115-105, NASCAR star Elliott has leg surgery after snowboard, U.S. jury poised to weigh international soccers, APD remains tight-lipped on weekend homicide in Nob Hill, found in the street with two gunshot wounds near Girard and Garfield on Sunday, housesitting when someone confronted him in the driveway, Rio Bravo Park cleanup will take longer than expected, Gun safety bill passes Senate, faces one more hurdle, Restaurants still struggling to recover from COVID, Roswell PD: Woman steals, drives wrong-way to get, State basketball tournament: Girls first round recap, BCSO: Kids were living in dirty home containing drugs, Local casino hosts National Fiery Foods & BBQ Show, UNM police arrest man for giving false ID, fleeing, More from KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos, Man connected to political shootings to stay behind, Safety improvements proposed for Nob Hill corridor, NM businesses are feeling impact of Pion shortage, CDC: Baby death linked to contaminated breast pump, Whats happening around New Mexico Mar. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The most recent murder took place on Friday evening, when Naeem Hussain, from Pakistan, was discovered fatally woundedin the area of Truman Street and Grand Avenue. And even data on violent crimes doesnt paint the full picture. And before then, 41-year-old Aftab Hussein was fatally wounded on July 26, 2022. There, officers discovered Aftab Hussein "lying next to a silver Hyundai sedan at" nearby, with multiple apparent gunshot wounds. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The official website for the City of Albuquerque. The Albuquerque Police Department will be increasing its "police presence near mosques and Muslim affiliate schools," Keller wrote on Twitter. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Authorities have yet to confirm that information. Albuquerque's homicide rate 2021: City sets new record - KRQE previously reported that the citys homicide rate, Rio Bravo Park cleanup will take longer than expected, Gun safety bill passes Senate, faces one more hurdle, Restaurants still struggling to recover from COVID, Roswell PD: Woman steals, drives wrong-way to get, State basketball tournament: Girls first round recap, BCSO: Kids were living in dirty home containing drugs, Local casino hosts National Fiery Foods & BBQ Show, UNM police arrest man for giving false ID, fleeing, More from KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos, Man connected to political shootings to stay behind, Safety improvements proposed for Nob Hill corridor, NM businesses are feeling impact of Pion shortage, CDC: Baby death linked to contaminated breast pump, Whats happening around New Mexico Mar. Former FBI investigator Bill Daly breaks down the case as law enforcement investigates the attack. This file photo released Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, by the Albuquerque Police Department shows Muhammad Syed. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). Hartsock attributed a higher solve rate to good detective work and communication among APD. But Gallegos says that while public distrust of APD certainly exists, it isnt a big hinderance to APDs ability to investigate violent crime. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) A 14-year-old New Mexico boy accused of shooting and killing a classmate in 2021 has pleaded no contest to a charge of second "The United States motion boils down to an effort to detain defendant for a crime with which he has not even been charged," Anderson argued, referring to the slayings of the Muslim men. Neighboring states, such as Arizona and Texas, have seen an estimated five to six homicides per 100,000 people each year. The teen was initially charged with an open count of murder and unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon on school premises. That includes Chicago, which marked one of its most violent years on record. Disgraced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh was convicted of murder Thursday in the Shaheen Syed, 21, appeared in U.S. district court in Albuquerque on Monday, with the judge granting a motion by federal prosecutors to keep him behind bars pending the ongoing investigation into the deaths of four Muslim victims dating back to November 2021. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Theres a lot of evidence out there that the environment and what it says has a lot to do with crime, she says. Tuesday marked four days since police received word of their most recent murder. ALBUQUERQUE MURDER SUSPECT SAID HE WAS GOING TO TEXAS TO FIND NEW HOME, REFERENCED 'SHOOTING OF MUSLIMS': COPS. Albuquerque murders: Muslim community to see increased police (U.S. District Court/AP). Many police departments saw an increase in homicides this year. Across the country, many police departments are reporting an increase in homicides. By this time last year, there were only 18. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Still, Medina is hopeful. Four men all from South Asia and all of whom practice the Muslim faith have been ambushed, shot and killed since November 2021, police have said. The official website for the City of Albuquerque. Police Chief Harold Medina has repeatedly said changes in the judicial system are needed. He acknowledged over the summer that the city would surely surpass 100 killings in 2021, and he remains under pressure to address the problem as he starts his second term. The Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office is investigating another 11 homicides in the areas surrounding the city. So one could argue that that was a drug-related crime, Thomson says. The shooting of 62-year-old Afghan migrant Mohammad Ahmadi on November 7, 2021, in the parking lot of a halal supermarket he ran is the fourth killing that detectives are trying to determine if it is related to the more recent homicides, Albuquerque said. Yet, I can pretty honestly say that I believe Chase Smotherman would have become violent if they had stolen his garden tools.. 2023 The City of Albuquerque. Court documents state that two guns purchased by Syed and his father at an Albuquerque gun store in July had been partially painted white. Shaheen Syed, 21, pictured in a 2021 Florida drivers license photo included in court documents. Syed, the main suspect in the slaying of four Muslim men in Albuquerque has committed regular acts of violence in the six years since he fled war-ravaged Afghanistan and resettled in the United States, according to police documents and court records. Given the recent increase in homicides, APD has been increasing both presence and engagement in certain areas, recently focusing on a Montgomery neighborhood with bouts of violence. His father, 51-year-old Muhammad Syed, has so far been charged with murder for two of the slayings the deaths of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain and Aftab Hussein. Hartsock also notes that the department instituted regular check-ins on open murder cases to help come up with new ideas into investigations. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). What can be done in the meantime is increase police patrols in those areas. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The bill narrowly passed the House and is poised to be considered by the full Senate. In the past, she says, it was easy to point the finger at political scapegoats or at gang violence. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Homicides are generally concentrated in communities that have chronically high levels of firearm violence, disparities, racial and ethnic disparities, segregation, underemployment, [and] poverty, says Christopher Lyons, a professor of sociology at the University of New Mexico. In fact, the Albuquerque Police Department counted 10 more homicides than in 2021, the previous record-setting year. Market data provided by Factset. Shaheen Syed was charged last week with lying about his address when he purchased two guns in 2021. (Albuquerque Police Department via AP, File). This undated file photo released by the City of Espaola shows Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, a planning and land use director who was killed in Albuquerque, N.M., on Aug. 1, 2022. Albuquerque is just known for abandoned cars, abandoned property.. Market data provided by Factset. Crime Statistics Our Department Officer Wellness Internal Affairs Behavioral Sciences Section Sexual Assault Evidence Kit SON OF AFGHAN ALLEGED GUNMAN IN NEW MEXICO KILLINGS OF MUSLIM MEN POSSIBLY ASSISTED MURDER PLOT: FEDS, Shaheen Syed, left, possibly helped his father, Muhammad Syed, right, surveillance one of his alleged victims. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Investigators said they think those three murders happened in Grants, and Lannon is accused of killing a fourth man in Albuquerque. But, there are mixed feelings on the effectiveness of simply increasing police presence in troubled areas. Albuquerque Police Deputy Commander Kyle Hartsock said at the time that "the motives are still being explored fully to understand what they are.". Stephanie Pagones is a Digital Reporter for FOX Business and Fox News. The 311 service is a single telephone number for all non-emergency City of Albuquerque inquiries and services. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) New Mexicos largest city recorded 117 killings in 2021, shattering its previous homicide record by 46%. Albuquerque Shaheen Syed, 21, pictured in a 2021 Florida drivers license photo included in court documents. But there seems to be more to the violence than just illegal drugs. The Syed family home is a few minutes drive from both the Islamic Center and Lutheran Family Services. But in the last few years, that average rose, reaching a new high this year, according to data from the FBI. The most recent murder took place on (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal via AP). Albuquerque police say the first homicide happened on Nov. 7, 2021. 3 Mar. Albuquerque Police identify man killed outside Nob Hill home A spokesperson for the Islamic Center of New Mexico did not respond to Fox News Digitals request for comment. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. View the sitemap for the City of Albuquerque website. There is one thing that certainly stands in the way of reducing Albuquerques violent crime, says Liz Thomson: In regards to reducing violent crime, investigating and solving violent crime, the blame game is the worst thing, she says. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Data from FBI UCR. Yet one of the most basic crime prevention strategies is to make a place look clean, inviting, and cared for, she says. New Mexico teen pleads no contest in fatal school shooting Nicholas Huffmyer from the sheriffs office says that overwhelming police presence does work. Shots were fired at his SUV around 4 p.m., striking him in the head and the arm. Legal Statement. And the problem extends far beyond Central. And he points to the drug trade as a source of violence across New Mexico. So ultimately, there are no easy answers to explain why New Mexico is such a violent place. But, its worth remembering that homicide detectives generally start their work after the crime is already done. Both the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office and APD say there continues to be challenges to preventing and solving violent crimes. This change is important because NIBRS provides more comprehensive and detailed information about crimes against person, crimes against property and crimes against society occurring in law enforcement jurisdictions across the country. In 2019, there were Police believe three recent murders and a murder that happened on Nov. 7, 2021, could be potentially connected. Community members are hoping to make a change when it comes to gun violence in the Duke City.The Albuquerque Police Department (APD) has reported 97 homicide victims, so far, in 2021. While 2022 brought more homicides, APD also says theyve solved more cases in 2022 than in 2021. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. We know this from exit interviews of officers who have retired or left departments, he says. An Afghan refugee who was already facing two murder charges for the recent slayings of two Muslim men in Albuquerque, New Mexico, was indicted on a third count Friday for allegedly killing another man who had just attended funeral services for the other two victims on Aug. 5. In 2019, there were only 22 homicides by April 18. (U.S. District Court), A reporter asked at a press conference earlier this month if Syed, a Sunni Muslim, could have been driven by anger that his daughter married a Shiite Muslim. 2021 was a record-breaking year for homicides in Albuquerque with 114, the first homicide happened on Jan. 8 and the last Dec. 31. By August, Albuquerque had already equaled its record for homicides with 81, set in 2019. Squabbles over drugs and not necessarily large amounts of drugs have often led to homicides in the past. Prosecutors also presented prior police reports of Shaheen Syed allegedly beating his father and sister and an unrelated incident in which he and his brother were allegedly involved in a shooting outside a Walmart. The first incident was reported on Nov. 7, 2021, when 62-year-old Mohammad Ahmadi was discovered shot and killed in the rear parking lot of a halal caf he owned with his brother on San Mateo Boulevard, according to city officials and local affiliate KRQE-TV. The sooner people recognize that there is not one circumstance that is causing this, the better, Huffmyer says. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Fox News' Danielle Wallace and The Associated Press contributed to this report. The motivation for that crime boils down to stolen marijuana and money. NIBRS is the most current national framework for reporting crime and replaces the FBIs Summary Reporting System (SRS). The four men all Muslim and from South Asia were ambushed, shot, and killed in Albuquerque since November 2021. Albuquerque Still, when it comes to identifying potential causes, the things that have held to be true, he says, are things such as poverty, things like the disintegration of a traditional family structure, [and] substance abuse..